Original subtitles

[Jessica] Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

-Jessica? -Charlie?

You know this bozo?

Industrial espionage in the used car business?

-He'll be scared to death. -Unless you give the money back,

it'll be out of my hands.

You two wouldn't be conjuring up

some sort of celebration?

Celebration?

-Like a birthday party. -For whom?

Why do I have this feeling

that you're not giving me all 15 chapters?

You're not telling me who you're working for.

I've gotta corner Lomax and make him give me that bundle of money.

So who's got the money?

Well, the killer.

[alarm ringing]

[police sirens blaring]

Police! Anybody here?

11, 12... which brings the total to...

well, I make it 14 guests,

and I don't think I've forgotten anyone.

Any inspirations in the gift department?

Well, there's that fly rod he's been talking about.

That's what I figured I'd give him.

Then you go ahead, and I'll keep looking.

Looking? For what?

Oh, uh... someplace to buy storm windows

that will last more than the year.

[rings]

-Hello? -Sheriff there?

Yes, he's right here. Deputy Andy for you.

-Hello? -There was a burglary at the Lomax Plant.

Right. I'll see you in a couple of minutes.

Gotta go. There's a burglary at Lomax Sheet Metal.

Listen, Mrs. F., if you're really stuck,

I'll be glad to find something else.

Find something else? What's he talking about?

Uh, the, uh... the dinner party.

Several of the guests don't care for shellfish.

If you ask me, with all you've got on your mind,

I think you're crazy to fool around with some dinner party

when there's no special occasion.

I mean, such as an anniversary or even... a birthday.

Oh, I know. But these days,

I get to spend so little time

with my old friends up here.

[sighs]

It was our welding equipment that they used.

They got it from out back.

What kind of petty cash are we talking about, Mr. Lomax?

200, maybe 300 bucks at most.

And you're pretty sure that's all that was taken?

Far as I can make out.

Sheriff, found this knife next to the safe.

Looks like some kind of fishing knife.

You recognize this, Mr. Lomax?

Yes, I do. It's mine.

I usually keep it in my desk.

Andy, we'll check it for prints.

We'll be leaving now, Sir.

I'm sorry this had to happen to you.

Yeah. Me, too. If I'd been a little closer

when I picked up your alarm signal,

I could've caught this guy in the act.

Maybe next time.

Thanks, Sheriff. Deputy.

[telephone ringing]

Lomax.

What happened? I expected to hear from you earlier

with confirmation that my parcel has been shipped.

Joseph, there's... a problem.

What kind of problem?

It's a theft. There's nothing to be alarmed about.

It's a local kid. I'll take care of it myself.

I'll have it in my hands first thing in the morning,

then I'll personally deliver it down at the Caymans.

-You're sure? -You've got my word on it.

Consider it done.

This kid--

He'll be scared to death.

That last word, Sanford,

that's the one to keep in mind.

[dial tone]

Oscar...

we have a problem.

[newscaster] The chase continued south on Michigan Avenue

at speeds in excess of 80 miles an hour.

The driver was arrested when his car struck a utility pole

at Shermack Road.

In sports, Chicago beat the New York Eagles

with a three-pointer in overtime.

And turning to horse racing,

today at the Chicago Downs, in the ninth race,

it was Swift Prince by a nose over Victor Way.

[newscast continues]

[telephone rings]

[beeps]

[woman] Hello. You've reached Garrett Investigations.

All of our lines are busy just now.

Please press 1 for Mr. Garrett's assistant. Press 2--

[Lomax] If you're there, Garrett, pick up.

It's Sanford Lomax, and I got a job for you. It's urgent.

A voice from the past.

You know, uh, I'm all booked up in the next month.

What have you got, another repo?

Industrial espionage.

Industrial espionage in the used car business?

No, no, that's old news. I'm in metals now.

Look, I checked, you can get a flight out of O'Hare at 6 a.m.

that'll put you into Portland before noon.

Okay, okay. But why me?

You must have plenty of guys in your neck of the woods.

I need somebody I can trust.

Oh ho ho! The last time I trusted you,

I almost got my ticket punched.

Come on, Charlie. How could I have known

that that Bentley was full of stolen goods?

Look, you gotta do this for me.

It's important. Okay?

Charlie? Are you there?

Uh, yeah, I'm checking my schedule.

You know, it doesn't look too good right now, Mr. Lomax.

All right, your regular fee,

plus an extra 25%.

Make it 50. What airline?

Uh-huh.

You ought to do more of those harbor scenes.

Can't keep them in the store.

Mother, I've done the harbor to death.

Heh!

I can't quite seem to get it.

I'd like to, before they tear it down.

-Hello, Libby. -Hi, Mrs. Fletcher.

New York finally get too noisy for you?

Oh, no, not yet. I'm just in town for a few days

to get my house in shape.

Oh, I have to stop by and see you, too, Libby.

My New York attorney wants to see my trust deed.

We're moving the office, but I'll try to pull it before we finish packing.

Oh, fine. Have you and Walter set a date yet?

No, but we're closing in.

Hmm.

I'll see you tonight, mother,

and I'll bring back some more supplies.

-Bye, Jessica. -Bye.

Libby is looking so lovely, Celia.

Mm-hmm. Can I help you?

You have a brass lamp in the window.

I wonder, would you have it with a red shade?

Celia? Is something the matter?

You really don't remember, do you?

Remember? What?

Heh! It figures!

Four years ago, the high school reunion.

I sent Harvey to bring you a gift a green glass apple.

Yes, of course. It was lovely.

Uh-huh.

Forgive me. Am I missing something?

Not that business about my thank you note?

The one that got lost in the mail? Something like that?

And when it finally got here,

it was dated three weeks after you received our gift.

-Oh, Celia, I-- -Mrs. Fletcher...

I'll be over later to look at those storm windows.

I'm sorry you're having trouble with them.

Thanks, Harvey.

I told you not to go to work for Lomax.

Mother, will you give it a rest?

Look, Celia, I really don't know what to say

about your problem.

But four years seems an awfully long time

to carry around something like that.

Jessica...

I, uh...

I can have that lamp for you tomorrow.

Thanks.

[indistinct chatter]

Walter, we gotta talk about last night.

Last night?

The Sheriff found your knife

in my office by the safe.

I told him it was mine.

I'll get to the point, Walter.

Return the money immediately,

less the 1,200 that you seem to think I owe you.

Seem to think? Are you kidding me?

For the last six months, I've been trying to get you

to check out the crummy job you did and make good on it.

The engine housing started rusting

the day you finished it, and the hull--

Walter, what you did last night was very stupid.

I don't know what you're talking about.

The cash you took.

I heard on the radio this morning,

they said only $300 was taken.

Walter, you don't understand.

The money you took wasn't mine.

-It belongs to other people. -Other people?

People to whom life is very, very cheap.

People from whom you cannot hide.

Look, Mr. Lomax, I don't know what you've been smoking--

Get it straight, Walter.

Unless you give the money back immediately

and swear not to breath a word

to the authorities or anyone else,

it'll be out of my hands.

I don't know how my knife got in your office,

and I don't have your money, so get off my boat!

I got work to do.

You got until midnight.

Don't make another mistake, Walter.

He ripped me off, damn it!

Look, I couldn't take it anymore.

I even wrote to him, like you said,

but he never returned my letters, he never--

That's not an excuse for stealing.

You've got to go to the Sheriff and turn yourself in.

I don't think I can do that.

Look, I meant to take $1,200,

which is exactly what he owes me.

You meant? What are you saying?

Well, as it turns out...

I took $900,000.

Oh, my god. The radio said it was only--

to me, that means that he can't admit he had all that money.

Like it's something illegal.

Yeah. And if Lomax knows

that I know he's up to something crooked,

he also knows I could be a potential witness against him.

Even if I called the cops,

you, me, your whole family--

none of us would be safe.

You always said my temper would get me in trouble someday,

and now I think I got you in it, too.

-Listen, what are we gonna do? -I don't know.

Oh, Libby, there you are.

Hi, Jessica.

-Hello, Libby, Walter. -Jessica.

I found your trust deed.

It's up at the front. I made a copy for you.

Luckily, it wasn't packed yet.

Here we go.

Another few minutes,

and it would've been lost forever.

Thanks. Hello, Harvey.

Jessica, we can't go on meeting like this.

Is this a bunch of stuff for mom?

Part of it. Can't believe the stuff we're gonna throw out.

I'll grab the rest of it later.

Jessica, can I give you a lift?

Actually, no. I have one, thanks.

You can take me over to the new office

and pick me up there tonight.

-You're on, sis. -Thanks.

Some little dinner party!

You've got enough here to feed a regiment.

It does seem to be taking on a life of its own.

I'm sure glad that you can make it, Seth.

You're blocking traffic here.

You got any more errands, you'll have to move it.

Traffic? Why, it's like siesta time

south of the border!

Look, a space just opened up up there.

Either pull it in, or I'll have to write you a ticket.

Oh? Is the Sheriff's Department's slush fund

running a bit dry now?

Oh, Mrs. F? I decided not to get him that fly rod.

Adele saw a lamp in Celia Terhune's window.

Aha. Well, that's--

Oscar Gandile?

What the hell would he be doing

in this part of the world?

[horn honks]

Would you look at that?!

Mister! Why don't you watch where you're going?

Hold it, take it easy. Let me handle this.

Sir, may I see your license and registration?

Officer, you saw the whole thing.

That old clown started backing up without giving a signal.

So what?

That's not the way I saw it.

Maybe you ought to have your eyes examined.

Okay, fella, out of the car now.

What do you expect in a backwater town like this?

Jessica?

Charlie?!

Mrs. F, you mean to tell me you know this bozo?

You see, my client was hot to get me started,

so I figured I'd call you tonight.

Industrial espionage? That's all you were told?

That and a description, and his name, of course.

Charlie, are you in the habit of taking jobs

on so little information?

Jessica, sometimes all I've got to go on is this.

So, uh, this Walter Perry,

you known him a long time?

All his life. He was orphaned at 14,

lost his parents in an automobile wreck.

He was raised by his grandmother,

who happened to be a very close friend of mine.

She died a few years ago.

What kind of a kid was he?

Impulsive.

Ah. A hoodlum, you mean.

Oh, no, not really.

He got into a few scrapes with the Sheriff,

but he settled down.

Jessica, why do I have this feeling

that you're not giving me all 15 chapters on this guy?

Well, you aren't telling me who you're working for.

Touche.

Okay, suppose I did.

Would you then give me the full scoop on Walter Perry?

Well, that might depend on who your client is.

Aha. There, you see?

Charlie, I'm fond of Walter,

also of his fiancee,

and I don't want to see them get into trouble or be the cause of it.

You know what I think?

I think this kid is already in a lot of trouble.

And I think you know a lot more than you're letting on.

[doorbell rings]

Excuse me.

Hi, Jessica. I don't mean to interrupt anything,

but I thought I ought to let you know.

I tried to talk Mr. Lomax

into replacing your storm windows,

but he said no. The warranty's run out. I'm really sorry.

Well, thank you, Harvey.

It's too bad that he won't stand behind what he sells,

but I'm sure you did your best.

He's not in a very good mood.

That burglary last night has him pretty wound up.

You'd think somebody stole the crown jewels.

Industrial espionage?

What, you got blueprints around here

for a better downspout? Are you kidding me?

Sanford, knowing you,

the only secrets around here

are how much you're stealing from your customers,

unless, of course, you're still doing your old tricks,

little jobs for the wiseguys from Chicago.

No, no, I put that all behind me.

Hey, no more smoke town.

You didn't drag me all the way up here

because you trust me or for my looks.

Charlie, you're making it more complicated than it is.

If I had to guess, you figured that,

by the time I put it all together,

that kid who burglarized your joint last night

would lead me to what he took.

I'd come back here, tell you,

be on my way to Chicago,

and then you'd do him, right?

Have I got the lyrics right?

'Cause I gotta tell you something,

I'm not too anxious to become an accessory.

Damn it, Charlie, you're,

-you're way off track. -I am, huh?

Well, why don't you, uh,

why don't you prove me wrong, huh?

All right.

All right, I got this small subcontract

from an outfit that works for the Pentagon.

We're talking insignificant here.

Like widgets, for God's sake.

Anyway, there was a few pages

of classified material

that these people weren't even supposed to let me see,

but they did. And I stashed it in my petty cash box.

Now, if word gets out, they're in trouble,

and I'm in bigger trouble.

That's it, Charlie, I swear, all of it.

Okay. Okay, I'm sold.

I'm sorry I gave you such a bad time.

No problem. The important thing now

is to get back on the kid's tail.

I don't think he's gonna make a move until tonight.

Right.

Oh. Uh...

there is one little thing.

I don't know how important this is,

but do you know there's another guy tailing Walter Perry?

You're serious?

Yeah. And I recognized him.

Oscar Gandile. He's a button man

for the Kempinsky Organization in Chicago.

You know anything about that?

Got me.

Right.

Mr. Lomax? About Mrs. Fletcher's storm windows,

I really think-- Not now, Terhune.

[Lomax] And then I find out that my guy is following your guy.

Joseph, I told you I'd take care of it myself.

There was no need to send somebody else.

If there were no need, Lomax, he wouldn't be out there.

All right, fine. Have it your way.

But if it gets screwed up because of this,

it won't be my fault.

Interesting logic, friend.

I was under the impression it was my money...

and you managed to lose it.

You tell your man to stay out of Oscar's way.

[dial tone]

Walter Perry? An industrial spy?

Come on, Mrs. F. My guess is

your buddy Garrett's pulling your leg.

And the fact that Sanford Lomax is all freaked out,

well, hey, people have all kinds of reactions

to getting robbed.

Isn't this kind of knife used for scaling fish?

Yeah, Lomax's hobby is fishing.

Listen, Mrs. F, just how tight are you and Garrett?

Oh, I know him just casually.

I met him in Miami. Why?

Chicago, Los Angeles,

Coral City, Florida--

the police don't have a lot of great things to say about him.

Doesn't surprise me one bit.

I sensed something unwholesome about him

the first time I set eyes on him.

Charlie always had a penchant

for ruffling official feathers.

Ruffling? Try yanking them out by the handful.

Resisting arrest, lying to an officer,

contempt of court,

not to mention a half a dozen bunco charges.

You know, Mort, I may be imagining things,

but Walter's grandmother was a very dear friend of mine.

I'll talk to him. Look, Mrs. F,

I've got to speak to you in private about the, uh--

Wait a minute!

This dinner party? All this secrecy?

These preparations? You two wouldn't be conjuring up

some sort of celebration, would you?

Celebration?

You know, like a birthday party.

For whom? For whom? For me-um!

Oh! Oh, yes, of course.

It's the 21st, isn't it?

Oh, Seth, I'm terribly sorry,

but I guess back there you made such a point

about hating birthdays

that I just put it out of my mind.

Good, good. For once, you listened.

Excuse me, Sheriff. I just got a call

from Mrs. Hubbard over on Oak Street.

Somebody trashed her apartment

and one of her tenants.

She said Walter Perry's apartment

was a bigger mess than hers.

And you've got no idea who did this to your boat, either?

Look, I just want to get my hands on whoever did this.

I gotta get over the my apartment

and take a look at the damage.

Walter, let me ask you a question.

Were you anywhere near Lomax sheet metal

about 10:30 last night?

What are you talking about, Sheriff?

Your beef with Lomax.

You even complained to me, and anyone else who'd listen,

about the money you were convinced he owed you.

By any chance, did you break into his place last night

to even the score?

I was home watching TV

and I don't like being accused of being a thief.

Let me give you a piece of advice.

Maybe you ought to give some thought

to the kind of people who did this.

Next time, they won't stop

at busting up your apartment and your boat.

All right, Sheriff, I'll think about it. Thanks.

Hey, Sheriff.

Well?

Honestly, are you saying that Walter

is in some kind of danger?

He very well could be.

Sheriff, I don't know.

Libby, you change your mind, you call me, okay?

Libby, what was that about?

Nothing.

That business with Walter?

He's got himself in some kind of trouble again?

Mother, please, I really don't want to talk about this now.

That nice Caleb Hawkins.

I understand he's got a real good job

over in Bridgton.

Mom, I really think you should just let it be.

Oh, Harvey...

I just want your lives to be better than mine.

I know you do, mom.

I know.

I tried to trace that knife, but no luck.

I would swear in court that when I saw Walter this morning,

his knife sheath was empty,

and it was about the same size.

But why would Lomax tell me it was his?

I don't know. But let's say that he knew

that it belonged to Walter.

That'd mean he had to realize that Walter was the thief.

So why wouldn't he just tell me?

I'm not sure. Unless...

unless Walter took something that--

That Lomax didn't want made public, right?

He might try to get it back from Walter

without bringing you into it.

Like searching his boat and his apartment.

If we're right, what did Walter take, and how do we find out?

How much do you know about Sanford Lomax?

Not that much. He set up shop here a couple of years ago.

From Chicago, wasn't he?

Yeah. You think that's who Garrett's working for?

I'd bet my next royalty check

that your old buddy from the Chicago P.D.

who filled us in on Charlie,

-perhaps he's heard of Lomax? -Good idea.

And then I want to have some words with Mr. Garrett.

Not as badly as I do.

Oscar.

What do you say, Charlie?

I'll start with how surprised I am

they let you out so late.

Heh heh. Cute.

[door closes]

Uhh!

850, $900!

$885.

Estimates to repair a dented fender.

You'd think I was trying to restore a classic.

Yes, would you try Mr. Garrett's room for me, please?

And when you get that gentlemen,

will you please remind him

that my insurance premiums

will probably be going sky-high,

all because he didn't watch where he was going.

Good morning, Jessica.

Dr. Hazlitt, how are you? Good to see you.

Hey, I brought you some jelly donuts.

First he bangs into my car,

now he's trying to kill me.

Charlie, I have been trying to reach you since last night.

I got in too late to call you back.

Peering over transoms, no doubt.

By the look of your chin, I expect someone caught you.

My stepladder collapsed.

I know you're working for Sanford Lomax.

Jessica, I can explain--

No more deception. Now, look,

I have known Walter Perry since he was born,

and I am very concerned about him.

I want to know exactly why Lomax has you following Walter

and what it is that Walter took from him.

And don't tell me industrial secrets.

Okay, look, I can't get squat out of Lomax, honest.

Well, that's too bad. I'm really concerned

about Walter's fiancee as well.

I am, too. That's exactly why I came over here.

I thought maybe you might've picked up something

that we could go to the Sheriff with.

[telephone rings] Hello?

Yeah, he's right here. I'll put him on.

[chattering] Oh, dear.

Who?

Where?

Yes, I'll tell him, Sheriff.

That was one of the more cryptic conversations

I've ever heard.

Tell me who, what, where.

Mort needs you to take a look at a body.

They don't know who it is,

but he was murdered in the Old Town Records Office...

apparently sometime late last night.

Well, that's not exactly my department.

Um, look, I've gotta run. I'll talk to you later.

Keep in touch, Charlie.

Oh, I will, I will.

Well...

Ballpark, I'd say 1 to 5 a.m.

I meant in the ballpark, Doc.

Doc, I'm not a pathologist.

He's got zero I.D. not even clothing tags.

And the serial numbers have been filed off his gun.

What do you suppose a guy like that

was doing here in Cabot Cove?

In the Town's Records Office, too.

In the middle of the night.

Okay, so he's looking for some records.

So who killed him? Somebody who didn't want the records found,

the burglar, what?

Mr. Charles Garrett does leap to mind.

Did you happen to find anything

that might've been used to force this lock?

Nada. Looks like it might've been a crowbar.

The killer probably grabbed it, killed the victim

and then just took off with it.

Unless this is the murder weapon.

Hey, that looks like blood. And hair.

Not much good for jimmying a door.

Libby, does this look familiar to you?

I think it's the one that's been in the office for years.

Okay, Andy, bag it and we'll send it down to forensics.

Mrs. F, do I detect some wheels turning?

"Creaking" might more accurately describe it.

No, I was just thinking, suppose the victim

wasn't the first one to enter.

Somebody else breaks in here,

this guy follows him. They...

Okay, Mrs. F. Your buddy Garrett,

a fourth-rate PI

and our gun-toting victim out there,

you don't come up with match-ups like that very often.

-Have you heard from him? -Yes.

And I have a feeling he doesn't have an alibi.

Andy, put out an all-points on Garrett,

wanted for questioning in a homicide, etc., etc.

Sheriff, I don't believe that Charlie is a murderer.

Oh, hold that thought, Mrs. F.

There's always a chance that wishing will make it so.

Libby, I really--

Jessica, I don't know anything about this.

And I don't know where Walter is.

Sheriff, your friend in Chicago,

did you hear back from him?

Yes. Lomax was clean. There was a buzz

about him having a mob connection,

but nothing they could confirm.

Kempinsky's coming here? Oh, great.

When's his flight get in?

Just a second.

Mrs. Fletcher, I can't deal

with your storm windows today.

This hasn't got anything to do

with storm windows.

I'm here about Walter Perry

and whatever it is that is going on between you two.

I'll get back to you.

-I don't know what you're talking about. -I think you do.

I'm not sure why Walter robbed you,

but apparently he stole more than he bargained for,

a great deal more.

Look, I don't have time for this.

In fact, so much more

that people are getting killed for it.

And since Walter seems too terrified

to ask the authorities for protection from you,

I suspect that this has something to do

with those alleged mob connections.

All right, Mrs. Fletcher,

let's get real about this, shall we?

If you're as concerned about Walter as you claim to be,

then you had better listen to me very, very carefully.

First of all, I know nothing

about the man who was killed last night.

`Secondly, Walter is not in any danger from me.

On the other hand, if you don't get your nose out of it,

and quickly, you could be putting him at risk

from people that I have absolutely no control over.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

I think I do, Mr. Lomax.

Good. And in case you decide to tell the Sheriff

or anyone else about this conversation,

I will deny that it ever took place.

And you may actually be increasing the risk

to Mr. Perry.

All right. Now I'd like you

to understand something, Mr. Lomax.

I don't, for one minute, believe

that you don't know anything about last night's murder.

And as far as Walter Perry is concerned,

it might be wise of you to remember

that being an accessory to violent acts...

[static, voice breaking up]

...also carries a long prison sentence.

Now, that is one gutsy broad.

None of this surprises me, not one bit.

I've been telling her Walter was no good.

And now...

Celia, I really didn't mean to alarm you.

I was just hoping that Libby might've given you some idea

about what was going on.

Mrs. F, Celia, Harvey.

Any chance I can talk to your daughter, ma'am?

I haven't seen her since morning. Why?

What is it, Sheriff?

The, uh... the murder weapon...

that hammer. The only fingerprints we found on it

belonged to Walter Perry.

I knew it. Now he's killed her, too.

Mom, that's not necessarily true.

Harvey's right, Celia.

The victim, have they identified who it is?

Oscar James Gandile, age 24...

reputed member of a Chicago crime family.

And Charlie, have they found him?

[cell phone rings] Vanished, just like Walter.

Checked outta his room at the Hill House first thing this morning.

He won't get far, though.

The APB should be picking him up any time.

Metzger. Yeah, well, nice try.

Let's just stay with it.

Well, we seem to be batting 1.000.

I sent Andy to pick up Lomax for questioning,

and now he's disappeared.

Libby, last night, I had it figured.

I was halfway ready to grab the money,

turn it over to the Sheriff

and hope he could figure out a way to protect us.

But now this guy's been murdered for it,

and next I think it's gonna be us.

Oh, Walter. What are we gonna do?

Get the money and get out of here fast.

Change our appearances, whatever it takes.

But first we gotta figure out who's got it.

And the only thing that makes sense to me

is that it's someone who knew about it in the first place.

The Chi-town guy was killed.

That pretty much leaves Lomax.

What about that other fella that was following you?

I don't think so. When I came out of there,

he was laying in the alley.

Somebody must've slugged him.

Lomax must've seen me go into your office with the backpack

and leave without it.

Sweetheart, listen, I've got a little money--

Libby, we don't have a choice.

Now, I've got to corner Lomax

so he can give me that bundle of money.

Take the truck, drive up to Benson's Woods,

lock yourself in and stay there until I get there.

And I will get there.

You have my word.

[radio warbling]

I resent this, Joseph?

You resent?

I have to come all the way from Chicago

to fix what Oscar could've taken care of in ten minutes...

if you and that lowlife Garrett hadn't screwed this up.

I couldn't have done worse if I'd taken my money

and throw it in the damn washing machine.

I'll have it for you tomorrow,

the latest, I promise.

Uh-huh.

You know what my take is, Lomax?

You popped Oscar

and then glommed my 900 large.

What do you think of that?

I think you're out of your mind.

Garrett killed him,

and it's the fisherman who's got your money.

Let's not get excited here. I was fond of Oscar.

But Oscar's replaceable.

But my money... is another matter.

So I want it now.

[gun cocks] So do I!

I figure he's got it right, Mr. Lomax.

I'm sorry I ever met you.

I'm sorrier still I did what I did.

But I need that money now, all of it!

Police! Don't even blink.

Andy, you read these gentlemen their rights.

You have the right to remain silent...

So what happened to the 900 grand?

I'm telling you, Mrs. F, it really killed me

to have to let Kempinsky and his bodyguard go

along with Lomax.

But, thanks to Walter here refusing to say anything,

there was nothing I could really hold them on.

Look, Walter, I'm gonna tell you this one last time.

We want to help you. But this murder rap,

you'll take the fall unless you talk to us.

I didn't kill anybody.

Mort, wouldn't the Federal Witness Protection Program

shield Walter from reprisals?

Sure, a new identity, the whole shot. Happens all the time.

And Libby and her family?

I'm quite sure that something can be arranged.

[sighs] Okay.

Libby's up in Benson's Woods.

Right, I understand that.

That's when you put the money in the filing cabinet?

Exactly. I had it in my backpack,

and I figured I had to hide it somewhere

until I figured out what I was gonna do.

Then I saw those old file cabinets,

and Libby's already removed the files

and they were gonna take the files to the new office,

so I thought, "who'd look there?"

[Jessica] But later that night,

when you broke into Libby's office,

you discovered that the $900,000 was gone.

[Walter] Totally.

And then I heard this noise.

[clatter]

Someone else came into the office towards where I was,

and a sound, like somebody getting hit.

I heard something fall, then footsteps, then silence.

After a minute, I worked up the courage to look.

There was this guy's body.

I picked up the hammer, and then I realized what happened.

I just tossed it into the planter

and ran out of there.

And that... that was that.

So who's got the money?

Well, the killer, most likely.

Look, Walter, there's still the matter

of your fingerprints all over the murder weapon,

plus the fact I don't think you want to be running around out there

until this is settled. Same thing goes for you, Libby.

With Kempinsky and his goon running around out there,

I think you might be safer spending the night here.

Thanks, Sheriff.

We'll look after your mother and Harvey as well.

So, Mrs. F, got any ideas?

Not at the moment, Mort.

Well, I really think you're gonna hate mine.

Charlie Garrett.

Charlie Garrett.

Hiya, Jessica.

I'm sorry to startle you.

It's nice to know there's still places

where people don't have to lock their doors.

All right, Charlie.

I want some answers,

and I suspect that you have most of them.

Me? Why do you say that?

That was your bug under the edge

of Sanford Lomax's desk, wasn't it?

Me and electronic gadgets,

one day, I'm gonna get the hang of them.

Who took the money, Charlie?

And who killed that Gandile fella?

Jessica, I wish to hell I knew.

I saw Walter Perry go into the records office,

but that's when Gandile popped me.

And that's all I know, honest.

Listen, I'm starving to death.

Got anything to eat? Some crackers or something?

There's an apple in the bowl over there.

You'll find a knife in the drawer.

The Sheriff's got half the law enforcement people

in the state of Maine looking for you.

How did you manage to avoid them?

It's called self-preservation.

Now, I know what you think of this Walter Perry,

And I know how you believe in him. I want to help.

I'm sure you've got some thoughts on the subject.

Jessica, what is it?

Charlie...

I think I know who killed Mr. Gandile

and who took the money.

You do? Who?

Only I'm not sure that we can prove it.

Look, I need for you to make a phone call,

to set things up,

and then I will alert Sheriff Metzger.

Ah. Let me call the Sheriff, will you?

I want to get on his good side.

And who else do you want me to call?

Glad you could join us.

Jessica. But you aren't, uh--

Joseph Kempinsky. No, no, that was me.

You can blame Jessica. She told me to make the call.

The money, Harvey.

It was the paper cutter,

the one Libby put aside for your mother,

the one you brought back to her shop.

I didn't remember that I'd seen it before, or where,

till Walter told us how he concealed his backpack

behind the file drawer that contained the paper cutter.

I'd noticed it in the office.

And then, when I sliced the apple--

It reminded me of Celia using the paper cutter

to cut that piece of cardboard,

and then I remembered you telling Libby

you'd come back later for the rest of those discarded office supplies.

And when I took the paper cutter,

that's when I happened to see Walter's backpack

way down in the back.

I saw what was in it, and I was about to take it,

when one of the movers came toward me.

So you waited till that night and went back there.

Okay, yes, I took the money,

but I didn't kill anyone.

But you did, Harvey.

And I'm sure when Sheriff Metzger sends your clothing

to the State Police lab,

they'll find traces of Mr. Gandile's blood on it.

Oh... God.

I mean, I...

I didn't mean to do it.

He was going for his gun.

I'd borrowed Libby's key, and I let myself in.

And I had just taken the money,

and suddenly I hear someone breaking in.

[Jessica] That would've been Walter.

[Harvey] Then suddenly this other guy shows up.

He saw me. He was gonna kill me.

I had to do something.

Wait a minute. You know anything about Lomax's sideline?

No, not really. I mean, I had a hunch.

We weren't doing enough business around here

to pay for those weekend trips he'd take to the Caribbean.

I... I never meant to mess up my life like this.

The money...

it wasn't worth it.

Well, Harv, let me help you save some of that grief.

Jessica, I knew if anybody could lead me to the brass ring,

it would be you. Thank you.

Oh, Charlie, are you going somewhere?

About as far as 900 grand will take me.

Oh, but you can't.

Hey, often in one lifetime

does a kid from Stony Island Avenue

get his hands on almost a million bucks

that nobody will claim that they own?

Yes, but they'll come after you. You'll be a hunted man.

Thank you for worrying about me.

But I'll think of something.

Sheriff Metzger's gonna be here any second.

Oh, I forgot to tell you about that.

You know that call I made to him? I faked it.

I had a feeling you would.

So I called him myself from my living room.

Everything under control here, Mrs. F?

Oh, I'd say so.

Wouldn't you, Charlie?

[cheers and applause]

Go for it, Doc!

[cheering]

Speech, speech, speech!

Thank you.

I just want to say how sweet it is

to have friends like all of you,

and how much I appreciate your thoughtful gifts,

especially those of Jessica and Mort,

who seem to be coming from pretty much the same place.

[gasps] [laughter]

And, Mort, didn't I hear that Sanford Lomax

has turned state's evidence?

Yeah, this morning. Gotta hand it to you, Garrett.

Because of Lomax and those tapes you lifted off your bug,

Federal Prosecutors feel like they have enough on Joseph Kempinsky

and his entire organization to put 'em out of business

and behind bars for some heavy-duty time.

Then Walter and Libby won't have to go

into the Witness Protection Program?

The county prosecutors have agreed to drop

the breaking-and-entering charges... this time.

Never again. I'm cured.

By the way, Mr. Garrett, thanks for the cash!

I think it'll just about cover my car repairs.

Well, it was the least thing I could do, Doc.

Now, are you gonna take pictures of this?

Or are you gonna cut that cake?

Cash?

Charlie, you told me you were broke.

I just took a little expense money.

Anyway, the jury's gonna believe that Kempinsky

exaggerated by a couple of grand.

Tell me the truth. Considering all the risks,

you wouldn't have really taken all that money, would you?

Of course not.

I mean, it isn't as if $900,000 is what it used to be.